Post by Aidan O'Mongan on Jul 28, 2017 18:10:41 GMT -5

A sea of calm energy swirled within his mind and shielded his heart from outright terror at the sight of the powerful Shinigami’s prowess. Yet even behind such mental and emotional defenses horror began to creep through at the sight of the American knocked flying through the wall, reinforced as it was through Spiritual Material and Gintō Barriers, meanwhile his arms flipped away from the man, suddenly detached in the flash of a blade.

Even after dealing this attack the man managed to completely block Ricks’ roaring shotgun. Luckily dealing with those two attacks in quick succession seemed to be the limit of the Soul Reaper’s abilities as Aodh’s own arrows ripped into his leg. The Quincy was unable to tell how much damage it had done but hopefully it’d be enough to limit the spirit’s ability to move. Slowing him down would be advantageous especially with one of their members down… it was becoming increasingly clear they couldn’t win here and even if they could Aodh wasn’t convinced it was worth it. Forget bringing down the wrath of the Soul Society down upon them all, if they weren’t careful they were going to bring the castle walls down ontop of them. The entire castle staff, including the medical staff, were trained Quincy and might be able to get out in time but the same wouldn’t be true for the combatants and he was certain such a thing would kill all the mortals but not the damnable ghost.

Glancing at the weapon in his hand the Sternritter lowered the bow with a bemused expression, the shaft was covered in cracks and the string had snapped during his last barrage. If that was the case then he wouldn’t be able to summon his true Spirit Weapon again for some time, he’d have to summon an inferior version. Letting the bow vanish Aodh took a step forwards, fighting to slow his heart rate at even getting this much closer to the swordsman he attempted to think of another path. Gritting his teeth he considered his next step. He knew what he wanted to do but he needed the Shinigami to be distracted before he made his move, he had to go what his mind was currently prioritising before worrying about anything else. Suddenly he felt… tired. Before he knew it the man was sighing softly.

“I hate this place sometimes…” the words echoed sadly down the corridor, it took Aodh a moment to realise it was his own voice. “The Order will never last with this sort of hostility. Peace is the only hope for the future we have and I don’t think the Order is capable of it.”

Pain. His heart felt like it was being crushed under the weight of his own words. He had tried so hard and yet the Order was still so far from what he believed his people needed. Was the Order… the Crown itself only serving to drawn the enmity of others? If so then would the Quincy not be better served by the Order’s destruction.‘Would this tragedy that the Soul Reaper seeks to cause be better for our people? No more Queen, no more royals. The Order would collapse without the Throne to hold it together. If everyone simply returned home would the Gotei no longer pay us any attention?’he asked himself silently.

Pain. This time clear and suddenly as Aodh bit down hard enough on his lip to draw blood. What the hell was wrong with him? Why had he said that? Why had he thought such things? He didn’t know if that was how he really felt but he didn’t have time to be worrying about such bullshit. For God’s sake they were still in danger. Throwing his hand out to the side he willed a weapon into existence. He wasn’t finished here, not yet. His weapon had been damaged so he needed something else. Something powerful. The mere Kojaku variant would be no use against this opponent. He needed a weapon as strong as Dhiaga Bogha… no he needed something stronger. Something clicked within him. Faint lines were glowing along his Sanrei glove as gathered Reishi flowed down his left arm, combining and mixing with his own Reiryoku as the weight of his Reiatsu exploded downwards around him. Blinding light enveloped his hand before fading away to reveal a shimmering weapon in his grasp.

Like his Dhiaga Bogha it was silver in colour and was also a longbow however there the similarities ended. Instead of a golden grip and an intricate vine-like golden pattern along both limbs it had a plain blue cord grip and basic blue diagonal line patterns along the limbs, these patterns were glowing as if made from pure spiritual energy giving the bow the appearance of being both physical and spiritual in construction. The blue reishi string was more solid in appearance than his previous bow had been. It was altogether less impressive than his family’s inherited weapon and yet Aodh could sense it was more than it appeared. As the bow finished forming completely the blue lines that had formed along his Sanrei vanished, unnoticed by the Irish Archer who’s attention was stolen by his new weapon.

His focus was suddenly robbed by a flare of power from further down causing Aodh to shift his gaze back in the Shinigami’s direction. The next few moments were extremely important. The American rose and attacked the Soul Reaper with fists of steel, a flurry of furious blows directed towards him.

Aodh could stand next to him. Could help him make his last hurrah. However the realisation of how this would likely end had not left him and he wouldn’t die just so the Yank could go out in a blaze of glory.

He had to go. If he was a good warrior, a true soldier of the Order he would have done as he could sense Rick was doing and made his way to their Queen. It was her he should prioritise. Protect their leader, their monarch, their commander.

Aodh was not a very good soldier however.

Raising his new bow he aimed at the reinforced wall next to him and loosed. It was at this point Aodh realised that his new weapon wasn’t just more than it appeared, he was able to swiftly, smoothly and rather easily channel far more energy through it that he had ever been able to do so with Dhiaga Bogha. As such the little hole he planned to make had not happened, instead he blew out the entire wall and destroyed the, luckily empty, room behind it. Dust showered down on Aodh as the cracked roof trembled, along with the entire corridor, at the sudden loosening of such power.

Whatever. He hadn’t the time to wait. Lucas could only buy them so much time.

Using a swift Hirenkyaku he vanished through the gap and darted through the rooms. There was a soul far more precious to him than even Frey. Two of them in fact and he could sense them. Glowing softly a few rooms away. Frey had conducted herself in a certain fashion as leader, one could even argue she could be partially to blame for the growing aggression between the Seireitei and the Order even if only insofar as she was their Queen and as such held responsibility for the actions of all her Knights. However those souls were innocent, new and bright. Aodh would die before he allowed them to die for a war they couldn’t possibly comprehend. Couldn’t be blamed for.

Finally he reached the room, he could sense Wraith was with them. That was good. From what Aodh knew the man was no warrior but he was apparently something of a subtle individual, that was far precious in saving the children than might. One more person wouldn’t help against the monster they faced.

Aodh slid to a stop just as he sensed Wraith, what he believed to be the man holding his children, suddenly fade somewhat from his senses. Aodh blinked. He didn’t completely understand the Queen’s consort’s powers but apparently they were made for escaping.

In the distance the Sternritter could sense Freyleif’s energy flickering out of his senses as Rick left her location, although in her case she vanished completely. What had happened? Her towering strength had been burning bright as always, even weakened as she was, before suddenly vanishing. A faint smile tugged at his lips. Rick. Rick had saved her somehow, got her away, it was the only answer that made sense.

The Queen was safe and soon the babies would be too so long as the Soul Reaper didn’t catch up. Aodh considered what to do next. He had no interest in besting the Shinigami, perhaps he had once, but no longer. Far more important was to help secure Wraith’s escape. If Aodh could still sense Wraith off in the distance even as he fled then so too could the assassin. Considering the direction Wraith fled the Shinigami would have to pass through this area to give chase and no doubt the swordsman would do so.

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Current Events

Five years have passed.

Seireitei is crumbling and the Gotei is a shell of its former self. Ravaged by the plague, the surviving Shinigami struggle to maintain the balance, but with so few of them left, the work is taxing and their fortress-city has fallen to neglect. Spread thin across all fronts, their diminished presence has been noted by friend and foe alike.

The Arrancar have rebuilt Las Noches and are rallying. The throne remains empty, but self-styled Espada have risen up from among them and are vying for control, each one endlessly testing the others’ weaknesses. Too evenly matched for any one of them to claim the crown, they bide their time, waiting for the opportune moment.

On Earth, all seems well—but there is a war being fought in the shadows as the mortals find themselves lacking the protection they once had and so sorely need. The Quincy, having realized the oppressive specter of the Shinigami is no more, are flourishing, and are fighting the Hollow-breeds with renewed vigor.